Astm D6312-12

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6392 − 12 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Test Method for

Determining the Integrity of Nonreinforced Geomembrane
Seams Produced Using Thermo-Fusion Methods1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6392; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope These are industry-accepted trade descriptions and are not technical
material classifications based upon material density.
1.1 This test method describes destructive quality control
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
and quality assurance tests used to determine the integrity of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
geomembrane seams produced by thermo-fusion methods.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
This test method presents the procedures used for determining
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
the quality of nonbituminous bonded seams subjected to both
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
peel and shear tests. These test procedures are intended for
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
nonreinforced geomembranes only.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
1.2 The types of thermal field seaming techniques used to ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
construct geomembrane seams include the following: Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.2.1 Hot Air—This technique introduces high-temperature mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
air or gas between two geomembrane surfaces to facilitate Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
melting. Pressure is applied to the top or bottom geomembrane,
forcing together the two surfaces to form a continuous bond. 2. Referenced Documents
1.2.2 Hot Wedge (or Knife)—This technique melts the two 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
geomembrane surfaces to be seamed by running a hot metal D638 Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics
wedge between them. Pressure is applied to the top or bottom D4439 Terminology for Geosynthetics
geomembrane, or both, to form a continuous bond. Some D5199 Test Method for Measuring the Nominal Thickness
seams of this kind are made with dual bond tracks separated by of Geosynthetics
a nonbonded gap. These seams are sometimes referred to as D5994/D5994M Test Method for Measuring Core Thickness
dual hot wedge seams or double-track seams. of Textured Geomembranes
1.2.3 Extrusion—This technique encompasses extruding 2.2 EPA Standard:3
molten resin between two geomembranes or at the edge of two EPA/600/2-88/052 Lining of Waste Containment and Other
overlapped geomembranes to effect a continuous bond. Containment Facilities, Appendix N—Locus of Break
1.3 The types of materials covered by this test method Codes for Various Types of FML Seams
include the following:
1.3.1 Very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE). 3. Terminology
1.3.2 Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.3.3 Very flexible polyethylene (VFPE). 3.1.1 geomembrane, n—essentially impermeable geosyn-
1.3.4 Linear medium-density polyethylene (LMDPE). thetic composed of one or more synthetic sheets.
1.3.5 High-density polyethylene (HDPE). 3.1.2 quality assurance, n—all planned and systematic ac-
1.3.6 Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). tions necessary to provide adequate confidence that an item or
1.3.7 Flexible polypropylene (fPP). a facility will perform satisfactorily in service.
NOTE 1—The polyethylene identifiers presented in 1.3.1 – 1.3.5 3.1.3 quality control, n—the operational techniques and the
describe the types of materials typically tested using this test method. activities which sustain a quality of material, product, system,
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D35 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Geosynthetics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D35.10 on Geomem- contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
branes. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2018. Published February 2018. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D6392 – 12. DOI: Available from the Superintendent of Documents, US Government Printing
10.1520/D6392-12R18. Office, Washington, DC 20402.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Fri Feb 8 14:30:50 EST 2019
1
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D6392 − 12 (2018)
or service that will satisfy given needs; also the use of such 6.2 Specimen Preparation—Ten specimens shall be cut
techniques and activities. from the sample submittal. The specimens shall be die cut
using a 25 mm (nominal 1 in.) wide by a minimum of 150 mm
4. Significance and Use (nominal 6 in.) long die. Specimens that will be subjected to
4.1 The use of geomembranes as barrier materials to restrict peel and shear tests shall be selected alternately from the
liquid migration from one location to another in soil and rock sample and labeled as shown in Fig. 1. Specimens shall be cut
has created a need for a standard test method to evaluate the such that the seam is perpendicular to the longer dimension of
quality of geomembrane seams produced by thermo-fusion the strip specimen.
methods. In the case of geomembranes, it has become evident 6.3 Conditioning—Samples should be conditioned for 40 h
that geomembrane seams can exhibit separation in the field in a standard laboratory environment that conforms to the
under certain conditions. Although this is an index-type test requirements for testing geosynthetics as stated in Terminology
method used for quality assurance and quality control D4439. Long sample conditioning times typically are not
purposes, it is also intended to provide the quality assurance possible for most applications that require seam testing. Prior
engineer with sufficient seam peel and shear data to evaluate to testing, samples should be conditioned for a minimum of 1 h
seam quality. Recording and reporting data, such as separation at 23 6 2 °C and a relative humidity between 50 and 70 %.
that occurs during the peel test and elongation during the shear
test, will allow the quality assurance engineer to take measures 7. Destructive Test Methods
necessary to ensure the repair of inferior seams during facility
construction, and therefore, minimize the potential for seam 7.1 Peel Testing—Subject five specimens to the 90° “T-
separation in service. peel” test (see Fig. 2). If the tested sample is a dual hot wedge
seam, five specimens must be examined for each external track
5. Apparatus of the seam. Maintaining the specimen in a horizontal position
throughout the test is not required. Fully grip the test specimen
5.1 Tensile instrumentation shall meet the requirements across the width of the specimen. Grip the peel specimen by
outlined in Test Method D638. securing grips 25 mm (1 in.) on each side of the start of the
5.2 Grip Faces—Grip faces shall be 25 mm (1 in.) wide and seam bond, a constant machine crosshead speed of 50 mm
a minimum of 25 mm (1 in.) in length. Smooth rubber, fine (2 in.) ⁄min for HDPE, LMDPE, and PVC, 500 mm (20
serrated, or coarse serrated grip faces have all been found to be in.)/min for LLDPE, VLDPE, VFPE, and fPP. The test is
suitable for testing geomembrane seams. complete when the specimen ruptures.
7.2 Shear Testing—Subject five specimens to the shear test
6. Sample and Specimen Preparation (see Fig. 2). Fully support the test specimen within the grips
6.1 Seam Samples—Cut a portion of the fabricated seam across the width of the specimen. Secure the grips 25 mm
sample from the installed liner in accordance with the project (1 in.) on each side of the start of the seam bond, a constant
specifications. It is recommended that the cutout sample be machine crosshead speed of 50 mm (2 in.)/min for LMDPE
0.3 m (1 ft) wide and 0.45 m (1.5 ft) in length with the seam and HDPE, 500 mm (20 in.)/min for fPP, LLDPE, VFPE,
centered in the middle. VLDPE, and PVC. The test is complete for HDPE and LMDPE
FIG. 1 Seam Sample
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D6392 − 12 (2018)
FIG. 2 Shear and T-Peel Specimens
once the specimen has elongated 50 %. PVC, fPP, LLDPE, 8.1.5 Produce a record of the peeled area for easier shape
VFPE, and VLDPE geomembranes should be tested to rupture. assignment and peeled area determination. Care should be
NOTE 2—Both peel and shear tests for fPP, LLDPE, VLDPE, and PVC taken to ensure intimate contact between the peeled specimen
geomembranes have been tested routinely at both 2 and 20 in./min. When and the scanner surface so as to preserve dimensions.
conducting seam peel or shear testing for quality control or quality 8.1.6 Using the same calipers, record the dimensions of
assurance purposes, or both, it may be necessary to select the manufac-
turer’s recommended testing speed. In the absence of explicit testing
each peeled area.
speed requirements, follow those recommended in 7.1 and 7.2. 8.1.7 Using the recorded dimensions, calculate percent peel
as follows and round to the nearest 5%.
8. Calculations and Observations
S 5 100* A⁄A o (1)
8.1 Estimate of Seam Peel Separation—Visually estimate
the seam separation demonstrated prior to rupture for peel where:
specimens. The estimate shall be based upon the proportion of S = percent peel separation,
the area of the separated bond, to the area of original bonding A = area of peel separation measured, and
to the nearest 5 %. However, if at any point across the width of Ao = area of original bonded region (not including track
the peel specimen seam separation continues to the other side weld, tack weld, or squeeze-out, see Notes 3 and 4).
of the bonded area, the estimate of seam peel separation shall NOTE 3—During the thermo-fusion welding process, some of the
be 100 % regardless of the proportion of the area of the melted polymer may be shifted to the outside of the weld during the
separated bond to the area of the original bonding. pressing of the geomembrane panels together. This melted polymer is
sometimes called “squeeze-out” or “bleed-out” and is not considered part
8.1.1 In cases of dispute, the peel separation estimate may
of the bond. Care must be exercised during estimation of the seam peel
be documented via direct measure. separation to segregate the squeeze or bleed-out area from the peeled bond
8.1.2 Procedure—Determine the total area of bonded area area. The reported peel separation shall include the peeled bond area only.
for which the peel test was performed using calipers to span
measure the maximum length of the bond, being careful not NOTE 4—The exact area of original bond (Ao) for use in Eq 1 for peel
include squeeze-out or tack-welded areas. Verify the seam separation is sometimes ambiguous. For most cases, the area of peel
width of one inch. measured for thermo-fusion extrusion seams is that area defined by the
width of the specimen multiplied by the distance between the termination
8.1.3 Assign appropriate geometric shapes to approximate
of the top geomembrane and the outermost edge of the extrusion weld
the area of each separated portion of the peeled zone. along the bottom geomembrane. To be counted as part of the weld, the
8.1.4 Place the peeled specimen flat against the surface of a extruded material must be at least as thick as the nominal thickness of the
flatbed scanner set at 100 % scale. geomembrane.
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D6392 − 12 (2018)
8.2 Rupture Mode Selection—Determine the locus of break identify when significant reductions in elongation (when compared with
for both the peel and shear specimens as shown in Figs. 3 and the typical elongation of a new material) have occurred.
4. The locus of break for shear specimens that do not rupture 9. Report
prior to test end (50 % elongation) shall be interpreted as
occurring in the membrane that exhibits yielding. 9.1 The report shall include the following information:
9.1.1 Report the individual peel and shear specimen maxi-
8.3 Shear Percent Elongation—Calculate the percent elon- mum unit tension values in N/mm of width (lb/in.).
gation on shear specimens according to Eq 2. Divide the
extension at test end by the original gage length of 25 mm and NOTE 6—If requested, report the maximum peel or shear stress. This
calculation will require an accurate measurement of thickness for each
multiply by 100. specimen. These measurements should be made in accordance with Test
L Method D5199 for smooth geomembranes and Test Method D5994/
Elongation~ E ! 5 3 100 (2) D5994M for textured geomembranes.
L0
9.1.2 Report the crosshead speed used during peel and shear
where:
testing.
L = extension at test end, and 9.1.3 Report the average of the individual peel and shear
L0 = original gauge length. sample values recorded.
NOTE 5—The intent of measuring elongation using this test method is
to identify relatively large reductions in typical break elongation values of 9.1.4 If the peel or shear specimen does not rupture, report
seam samples. Length is defined as the distance from one grip to the seam the elongation at the maximum crosshead travel limitation. If
edge. Using this definition implies that all strain experienced by the the gage length is reduced to less than 25 mm (1 in.), this must
specimen during the shear test occurs on one side of the seam. Of course be noted in the report.
this assumption is inaccurate, since some strain will occur on each side of 9.1.5 Report the mode of specimen rupture for peel and
the seam, and in the seam area itself; however, it is difficult to make an
accurate measurement of the strain distribution which occurs in the shear specimens according to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4.
specimen during testing. Further, it is not critical to know the exact
location of all the strain which occurs during testing but rather to simply
FIG. 3 Locus-of-Break Codes for Dual Hot Wedge Seams in Unreinforced Geomembranes Tested for Seam Strength in Shear and Peel
Modes
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D6392 − 12 (2018)
FIG. 4 Locus-of-Break Codes for Fillet Extrusion Weld Seams in Unreinforced Geomembranes Tested for Seam Strength in Shear and
Peel Modes
NOTE 7—“Locus of failure” (Figs. 3 and 4) includes only some of the 10. Precision and Bias
typically found seam configurations found in the industry. When this test
method is applied to seams bonded in configurations other than those 10.1 No statement can be made at this time concerning
identified in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, the users of this test method must agree on precision or bias.
applicable descriptions for modes of specimen rupture.
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D6392 − 12 (2018)
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Astm D6312-12

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Astm D6312-12

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This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

Designation: D6392 − 12 (Reapproved 2018)

Standard Test Method for

FIG. 1 Seam Sample

FIG. 2 Shear and T-Peel Specimens

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